He is variant, he abit [abides] nowhere.
Chaucer.
Va"ri*ant (?), n. [Cf. F. variante.] Something which differs in form
from another thing, though really the same; as, a variant from a type
in natural history; a variant of a story or a word.
Va"ri*ate (?), v. t. & i. [L. variatus, p. p. of variare. See Vary.] To
alter; to make different; to vary.
Va`ri*a"tion (?), n. [OE. variatioun, F. variation, L. variatio. See
Vary.]
1. The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state,
or qualities of a thing; modification; alternation; mutation;
diversity; deviation; as, a variation of color in different lights; a
variation in size; variation of language.
The essences of things are conceived not capable of any such variation.
Locke.
2. Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from a position
or state; amount or rate of change.
3. (Gram.) Change of termination of words, as in declension,
conjugation, derivation, etc.
4. (Mus.) Repetition of a theme or melody with fanciful embellishments
or modifications, in time, tune, or harmony, or sometimes change of
key; the presentation of a musical thought in new and varied aspects,
yet so that the essential features of the original shall still preserve
their identity.
5. (Alg.) One of the different arrangements which can be made of any
number of quantities taking a certain number of them together.
Annual variation (Astron.), the yearly change in the right ascension or
declination of a star, produced by the combined effects of the
precession of the equinoxes and the proper motion of the star. —
Calculus of variations. See under Calculus. — Variation compass. See
under Compass. — Variation of the moon (Astron.), an inequality of the
moon's motion, depending on the angular distance of the moon from the
sun. It is greater at the octants, and zero at the quadratures. —
Variation of the needle (Geog. & Naut.), the angle included between the
true and magnetic meridians of a place; the deviation of the direction
of a magnetic needle from the true north and south line; — called also
declination of the needle.
Syn. — Change; vicissitude; variety; deviation.
Var`i*cel"la (?), n. [NL., dim. of LL. variola smallpox.] (Med.)
Chicken pox.
||Var"i*ces (?), n. pl. See Varix.
||
Va*ric"i*form (?), a. [Varix + - form.] (Med.) Resembling a varix.
Var"i*co*cele (?), n. [Varix a dilated vein + Gr. &?; tumor: cf. F.
varicocèle.] (Med.) A varicose enlargement of the veins of the
spermatic cord; also, a like enlargement of the veins of the scrotum.
Var"i*cose` (?; 277), a. [L. varicosus, from varix, -icis, a dilated
vein; cf. varus bent, stretched, crooked.]
1. Irregularly swollen or enlarged; affected with, or containing,
varices, or varicosities; of or pertaining to varices, or varicosities;
as, a varicose nerve fiber; a varicose vein; varicose ulcers.
2. (Med.) Intended for the treatment of varicose veins; — said of
elastic stockings, bandages. and the like.
Var`i*cos"i*ty (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being varicose.
2. An enlargement or swelling in a vessel, fiber, or the like; a varix;
as, the varicosities of nerve fibers.